TUSCALOOSA,
Alabama -- Faxes
have started rolling into Alabama's Signing Day headquarters, and AL.com's beat writers are publishing profiles
of each signee as Crimson Tide coach Nick
Saban announces the next
prize in Alabama's 2014 signing class.

Derek Kief

School:
Cincinnati (Ohio) LaSalle

Position:
Wide receiver

Height,
Weight: 6-foot-5, 197 pounds

247Sports.com
composite rating: Kief is a four-star prospect according to the composite rating
of major recruiting services. In Ohio, he is the No. 8 prospect in a talent
rich state that has the top five players heading to Ohio State. Among wide
receivers nationally, Kief is the No. 32 player in 247Sports' composite with
fellow Alabama signee Cameron Sims coming in at No. 12. Overall, Kief is the
No. 221 player in the country, according to 247Sports.

Other
schools: Ohio State, Kentucky.

How
he fits into Alabama's plans: Kief is a tall receiver, which Alabama could
certainly use with Kevin Norwood and Kenny Bell graduating. He's also got that
flair for creativity as shown the commitment video including a baby in an
Alabama shirt that revealed his decision. As a senior, his production slipped
to 46 catches for 546 yards after catching 65 passes for 907 yards as a junior.

Projection
for 2014: There are openings on the depth chart at receiver with Norwood and
Bell moving on, but there's still considerable talent with Amari Cooper,
DeAndrew White and Christion Jones returning. His 6-5 frame could help see the
field at least in a situational role since his highlight tape shows an ability
to catch the jump ball passes. He'll likely be a Scott Cochran favorite in the
weight room as the strength and conditioning coach looks to add some weight and
muscle to be a more durable player at the next level.